A NEW youth club in Bury is proving highly popular with youngsters while helping to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

The club, set up with police assistance, operates every Monday at the Mosses Centre in Cecil Street between 7pm and 8.30pm and caters for those aged 10 to 17.

The centre, run by charity the Mosses Community Association, has been working closely with officers from Bury North neighbourhood policing team who secured funding to help set up the youth club.

The aim is to give young people somewhere to go and something to do in the evenings.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Andy Bigland said: “This youth club was implemented due to issues of anti-social behaviour around Spring Street and East Street. This club is away of channelling the energy of young people into having a positive attitude and respect for the community they live in.

“We have been overwhelmed by the number of young people wanting to join the youth club and have had up to 30 attending each week.

“We have received positive feedback from parents who are eager to become involved and also young adults who want to become volunteers. Incidents in the local area have decreased and it is hoped that this we will continue.”

The funding has been secured from Greater Manchester Police under Operation Resolute, which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour as well as crimes such as thefts and robberies.

It has enabled organisers to purchase of a number of items, derived from a “wish list” written by club members, and aided by Smyths Toys in Bury who agreed to givie a discount.

The funding will also be used to provide a number of team building sessions.

Peter Firth, chief officer of the Mosses Community Association, added: “Working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police is a great benefit to the young people from the local community that attend the Mosses.”